Aeroplane



Jan. 3, 1933.

J. PREATKA 1,892,808 AEROPLANE Filed Jan. 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1933. EA A 1,892,808

- AEROPLANE Filed Jan. 19, 1951' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN NroR' ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES JOSEPH PREATKA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Q AEROPLANE Application filed January 19, 1931. Serial No. 509,743.

The present invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes. and has for one of its objects to provide an aeroplane wherein the aerofoils or wings I serve not only as the means of sustentation but also as auxiliary means of propulsion, supplementing the action of the usual propeller or propellers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane with a plurality of propel lers, and to so connect the same and the aerofoils with themotor of the aeroplane that-the said propellers and the aerofoils may be either actuated simultaneously or independently of one another, at will.

A further object of the invention is to mount the fuselage of the aeroplane upon an undercarriage provided with two axles, each having the usual wheels mounted thereon, and to provide a driving connection between the said wheels and the motor of the aeroplane, which driving connection is adapted to be rendered operative or inoperative, at will, .as required.

With these and other objects in view,

25 which will more fully appear as the nature of 30 trated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes maybe made in the size and proportion of the several parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 7

One of the many possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of'an aeroplane constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

- In the drawings, thenumeral 10 indicates the fuselage or body of the aeroplane, havinglong stream lines, as usual in constructions of this type, to present as little resistance to the air as possible. This fuselage is mounted upon an undercarriage orlanding curved aerofoil .27is such that it spans not rails 17 and transverse rails 18. These corner posts are also connected above the fuselage by longitudinally extending side rails 19. Below the side rails 19 is provided a bottom 20. Both the top rails 17 and the lower rails l9-consist each, preferably, of two spaced elements 17 and 19', respectively. The corner posts are furthermore connected by longitudinal rails '21, which are disposed intermediate the rails 17 and '19, and consist also each-of two spaced elements 21 (see Fig. 3). Adjacent each corner post is slidably mounted between the rail elements 17 21 and 19' a vertically extending bar 22, each of the same including a rack 23, adapted to mesh with a pinion'24, which is rotatably mounted in oneof the intermediate rails 21. Each pinion is also adapted to mesh with the teeth of a rack. 25, formed on a bar '26 that is slidably arranged between the elements of the rails 17, 21 and 19. The racks of each set of bars 22 and .26 mesh with the respective pinion on diametrically opposite points thereof, so that, when one of the said bars is moved in a certain direc- 8 tion, the companlon bar moves in the opposite direction, for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

On the bars 22 is mounted, above the rails 17 of the structure, a curved aerofoil 27. To

each pair of'bars 26, on either side of the tower-like structure, are fixed two horizontally extending 'aerofoils 28, the last-mentioned aerofoils being spaced on each side of the frame 15, and one pair of the same being disposed belon the rails 17 and the other pair above the rails 19. The aerofoils 28 are placed outsideof the tower-like structure (Figs. 2 and "3) and the width of the only the tower-like structure but also the aerofoils 28 and thereby co-o erates with the latter. As clearly appears rom the several figures of the drawings, the aerofoils extend longitudinally of the frame 15.

The aerofoils are actuated by a motor 29 of any suitable construction, the said motor being disposed on a bottom 20 of the tower-like structure. For this purpose there is fixed to the motor shaft 30 a bevel gear 31, in mesh with a similar gear 32, which is adapted to be connected by a clutch 33 with a transverse shaft 34. This shaft is suitably journaled in the tower-like structure and is provided at each end thereof with a crank 35, which are connected with one of the lower aerofoils 28. To the shaft 34 is also fixed a bevel gear 36 in mesh with a similar gear 37 on a longitudinal shaft 38. On this last-mentioned shaft is mounted a bevel gear 39, in mesh with a similar gear 40 on a transverse shaft 41. The shaft 41 is provided with two cranks 42, which are also connected with the lower aerofoils 28.

In front of the tower are mounted two propellers 43, and in rear of the said tower two propellers 44. Each of these propellers is fixed to a propeller shaft 45, said shafts being suitably journaled in bearings 46. Each of the propeller shafts carries a bevel gear 47, in mesh with a similar gear 48 on an inclined shaft 49, which is suitably journaled in bearings (not shown). On each shaft 49 is furthermore mounted a bevel gear 50. The bevel gears 50 on the front inclined shaft 49 mesh with a bevel gear 51, and those on the rear inclined shaft mesh with a bevel gear 52. The bevel gears 51 and 52 are adapted to be connected to the motor shaft by clutches 53.

In the central transverse plane of the towerlike frame are suitably journaled two vertical shafts 54, each having fixed thereto two propellers, denoted by the numerals 55 and 56. The propellers 55 are disposed above the side rails 17 and the propellers 56 below the longitudinal side rails 19. These propellers are in driving connection with the motor 29. For this purpose, each of the shafts 54 has fixed to it a bevel gear 57, in mesh with a similar gear 58 on a shaft 59. The shafts 59 are journaled in bearings 60 on the tower. Each shaft 59 has fixed to it furthermore a bevel gear 61, in mesh with a similar gear 62 on a transverse shaft 63. On each shaft 63 is furthermore mounted a bevel gear 64, which is adapted to be connected with the last-mentioned shaft by a clutch 65. The bevel gears 64 mesh with the bevel gear 66 on the motor shaft 30.

The axles 12 and 14 of the undercarriage are each provided with a crank 67 adapted to be driven from a motor by the intermediary of a connecting rod 68. I

The rudders 69 and their connections with the actuating mechanism in the fuselage have been shown diagrammatically only, as their construction is well understood and does not form part of the present invention. No attempt has been made to show other necessary parts of an aeroplane, as they do not form part of the invention.

The operation of the aeroplane is as follows: Assuming that the elements of the machine are in the positions shown in the several figures of the drawings, in which all clutches are in their inoperative positions, it is obvious that the propellers, aerofoils and wheels of the running gear are all at a full stop, even if the motor were running. The flight is started as follows: First the wheels of the undercarriage are connected with the motor. The aeroplane is thus propelled on the ground, the steering means being actuated for directing the course of the machine while on the ground. The several clutches are then shifted to operative positions, whereby all propellers are actuated and the aerofoils are caused to reciprocate, the aerofoils 28 running always in a direction opposite to those of the top, curved aerofoil 27. The machine will thus rise from the ground, after the horizontal rudders thereof have been placed in proper positions. It is also possible to start the machine from the ground without first running along the ground. This is accomplished by connecting the aerofoils 28 and 27 with the motor. When these aerofoils are actuated, the machine rises from the ground in the manner of a helicopter. In addition, it is also possible to start the machine from the ground by actuating the propellers 55 and 56 only, the last-mentioned propellers acting obviously like those of an ordinary helicopter. During the flight the wheels 11 and 13 are disconnected from the motor, and either the propellers or the aerofoils, or both of these elements may be connected with the motor, according to the requirements. The aerofoils, when actuated in the manner above described, act as the sustentation or propulsion means with or without the propellers. WVhen the propellers are actuated, they do in no way interfere with the propelling properties of the aerofoils. When the machine is in flight, the propellers may be stopped whenever desired. This is desirable in view of the fact that it may become necessary to conceal the position of the machine in the air, which obviously could not be done with the pro pellers turning. INhenever the propellers are stopped in flight, the aerofoils act, as above described, as sustentation and propelling means. However, the speed of the machine is materially reduced in such case, the aerofoils causing an ascent and descent of the aeroplane in practically a vertical direction. Due to this fact, it is possible to rise from the ground and also to descend on an exceedingly small flying field.

What I claim is z- 1. An aeroplane comprising a wheeled undercarriage, a fuselage mounted on said'c'arriage, a tower-like frame rising from said fuselage, horizontally disposed aerofoils reciprocatably mounted on said frame, a hori- Zontal aerofoil mounted on said frame to reciprocate above the same, said last-mentioned aerofoil extending over said frame and over said first-mentioned aerofoils so as to co-operate with the latter, a driving connection between said upper aerofoil and said firstmentioned aerofoils for reciprocating the same in opposite directions, propellers mounted on said frame, a motor, a driving connection between said propellers and said motor, a driving connection between said motor and all of said aer'ofoils, and clutches inserted into said connections whereby said aerofoils and the propellers are adapted tobe actuated independently of one another or together, at

will.

2. In an aeroplane according to claim 1, some of said propellers rotating in vertical planes and others in horizontal planes.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 17th day of January, A. D. 1931.

JOSEPH PREATKA. 

